Aeroplane.



W. I. TWOMBLY.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MA1L31, 1911 1,1 1%,73L Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET '1.

WITNESSES i INVENTORZ Wilhsd Irving mommy.

W. I. TWOMBLY.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.31,1911

SHEET 2.

Patented 001;. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETS INVENTOR. WLllard Irvmg Wombl y.

MTQRNEY WITNESSES: 4

.UNITED srntrns PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY, OF NEW YORK, N.- Z., ASSIGNOR TO TXVOMBLY MOTORS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed March 31, 1911. Serial No. 618,061.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known, that I, WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattamin the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of .which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines or aeroplanes, and it is the object of the invention to provide improved means to facilitate the starting and alighting, and to improve and simplify the construction whereby to decrease to a minimum the head resistance of the aeroplane when in flight.

In carrying out my invention, I have shown the same in connection with a monoplane, although it will be obvious thatthe invention is applicable to aeroplanes of different construction, such as biplanes or .dirigible flying machines, without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of resilient members, which are in the nature of spring boards, one extending transversely of the framework with wheels at the extremities thereof, the forward end of the aeroplane being supported on said member by standards forming a part of the framework. Skids are connected to said resilient member in such position that they will .normally be out of contact with the ground when the aeroplane is at rest on the ground or startin but as the aeroplane alights and said resilient member is sprungfrom the shock of the main frame when the wheels come in contact with the ground, the skids will engage with the ground and. serve as a brake to retard the movement of the aeroplane. The other resilient member is connected at one end to the framework with a wheel at the free end thereof to support the rear end of the aeroplane upon said wheel.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a monoplane with my improvements applied thereto, a portion of the planes being broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the main framewvith my improvements applied thereto, showing the positions they assume when the aeroplane 1s alighting, and in dotted lines the normal position or when the aeroplane is at rest upon the ground. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a monoplane, partly. broken away, with my improvements applied thereto showing in dotted lines the positions the rear resilient member and the rear of the main frame assume when the aeroplane alights. Fig. 4 1s a side elevation of a portion of the resilient member in the rear to illustrate the means to secure the same to the frame. Fig. 5 1s a plan view ofthe rear resilient member and the means to secure it to the main frame; and. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail to illustrate the manner of securing the front resilient member to the frame.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

As already stated, in the drawings I have shown my invention in connection with a monoplane having a longitudinal fuselage or main framework substantially rectangular in shape and tapering toward the rear, consisting of spars 7, uprights or standards 8, cross bars 9 and the braces or stay wires 10, with the bottom and sides from and retained in position by stay wires- 13. The tail of the aeroplane carries the usual rudder and elevating plane (not shown) to control the aeroplane. The m0- tor or engine 40 is supported in the forward end of the framework by means of a hanger 15, which may form apart of the engine frame, secured'to the standards 11 and a brace or bracket '16 fastened to the lower spars 7 and upon which the engine rests. The propeller 17 is fixed to thepower shaft of the motor in front of the main frame.

The forward end of the aercplanewhen on the ground is supported upon a pair of wheels 18 by means a resilient member 19 extending transversely of the frame, the said resilient member being in the nature of a spring board of suitable material, to the ends of which the spindles or axles upon which the wheels revolve are secured. The standards 11 and a pair of rigid braces 20 rest upon and are connected to the resilient tendingtransversely of the main frame and upon which the standards are secured so that the frame will rest upon said member centrally thereof, said member being inclined relative to the line of flight; wheels at the outer ends of said resilient member; skids conne Led to the bottom of said member so that they will be normally out of contact with the ground, but as the aeroplane alights and the resilient member is sprung from the. shock of the main frame when the wheels come in contact with the ground, forcing said skids upon the ground to serve as a brake to retard the movement of the areoplane.

3. In an aeroplane, the combination with the main frame, of-starting and alighting means, comprising a pair of supporting standards at the front of and forming a part of the mam frame; a resilient member extending transversely of the main frame and upon which the standards are secured so that the frame will rest upon said member centrally thereof with the ends extending beyond the sides of the main frame, said member being inclined relative to the line, of flight; wheels at the outer ends of said resilient member; skids connected to the bottom of said member so that they will be normally out of contact with the ground, but as the aeroplane alights and the resilient member is sprung from the shock of the main frame when the wheels come in contact vwith the ground, forcing said skids upon the ground to serve as a brake to retard the movement of the aeroplane; a second resilient member connected at one end to the main frame to incline downward relative to the line of flight; and a wheel connected to the free end of said second member.

4:. In an aeroplane, the combination with the framework, of a resilient member extending transversely of and upon which the forward end of the aeroplane is supported; wheels at the outer ends of said resilient member; skids carried b. saidin'iember so that they will be normally outof contact with the ground; a second resilient member having a forked end connected to the framework in an inclined position relative to the line'of flight; a wheel connected to said member within the forked portion; and means to coimect the second resilient member to the framework, comprising a crossbar rigidly connected to the framework with one end of said resilient member resting upon and secured thereto, and a second cross-bar rigidly connected to the framework; said latter bar secured to and resting upon the said resilient member whereby to support the rear of the aeroplane.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with the framework, of a pair of supporting standards at the front of and forming a part of the framework; a resilient member extending transversely of the main frame and upon which the standards are secured so that the forward end of the aeroplane will be supported upon the same; wheels at the outer ends of said resilient member; skids carried by said memberso that they will be normally out of contact with the ground; a second resilient member connected to the framework in the rear-"of the first resilient member in an inclined position relative to the line of flight, said member having a forked end; a wheel connected to said n'lember within the forked portion; and means to connect the second resilient membe r to the framework, comprising a member extending transversely of and rigidly connected to the framework, with one end of said resilient member resting upon and secured thereto, and a second member extending transversely of and rigidly connected to the framework; said latter member secured to and resting upon the resilient member whereby to support the rear of the aeroplane.

WILLARD IRVING TWOMBLY.

\Vitnesses JouN 0. Seminar, PAULA Plnmrr. 

